Six years after opening an office in Austin, Realtor.com is making the space its new headquarters. The company said it has more than 400 employees in Texas and now plans to add “hundreds more.”
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Nearly six years after opening an office in Austin, Realtor.com is making the Lone Star State its main operations hub.
Damian Eales
“Austin and Texas offer a strong and growing talent pool, a powerhouse economy with unparalleled housing growth, affordability of living only matched by its aspirational lifestyle, expansive tech and academic communities, and a dynamic and vibrant city at the heart of the thriving state of Texas,” Realtor.com Chief Executive Officer Damian Eales said in a statement. “There is no better place for us to call home.”
The company said it has spent the past few years developing a strong pool of experienced professionals and hungry up-and-comers through its internship program. Now they’re headquartered in Texas, Realtor.com said it will be able ramp up its recruiting efforts and attract a greater number of professionals who see Texas as the perfect mix of innovation, opportunity and affordability.
A Realtor.com spokesperson told Inman the company’s Austin office currently has 400 employees and they plan to hire “hundreds more” in engineering, technology, marketing, and senior leadership roles. As for the employees who were based at the portal’s now-closed Santa Clara HQ, they’ve all been transitioned to remote roles.
News Corp CEO Robert Thomson said Realtor.com’s move to Texas is a “downpayment on The American Dream.” New Realtor.com data said Texas builders filed the highest number of new-home permits in 2024. The abundance of new-home inventory has kept housing prices in Texas affordable, with the median listing price in the state clocking in at $360,000— $40,000 lower than the national median of $400,000.
“Basing Realtor.com in Texas puts our company at the heart of innovation and inspiration at a moment of national economic renaissance for America,” Thomson said in his statement. “We are proud to be housed in a state which understands the crucial role played by business in providing opportunities for personal growth, professional success and community achievement.”
A week before the announcement, Eales and Thomson met Texas Governor Greg Abbott to talk about Realtor.com’s commitment to Austin and its role as the strongest tech hub in the south.
“We are proud to welcome Realtor.com’s corporate headquarters to Austin as they expand their presence in Texas, along with our state’s growing housing market,” Abbott said in a statement. “Thanks to our unmatched business environment, no corporate or personal income taxes, and our highly skilled, young, and diverse workforce, Texas is the right place for Realtor.com.”
“Companies like Realtor.com found a home where they have the freedom to grow their business and better serve their employees and customers,” he added. “Working together, we will provide Realtor.com and their employees the freedom to thrive in our great state.”
News of the new HQ came a day after Realtor.com parent company Move posted its first revenue bump in more than two years. The company’s revenues increased 2 percent year over year to $130 million during the second quarter.
The rest of the portal’s metrics were flat or down on an annual basis, due to continued market headwinds and affordability issues. However, News Corp said it was pleased with Move’s performance, with the company maintaining “strong audience share despite much higher competitive marketing spend.”
Thomson batted away questions about selling Move during the earnings call, noting News Corp is dedicated to Move and Realtor.com for the long-haul. “[We plan] to keep the cars in the garage,” he said.